The Member of Parliament for Asunafo North, Haruna Mohammed, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for his commitment to youth development, citing the separation of the Youth Ministry from the Sports Ministry as a groundbreaking move.
Speaking on the significance of this change on Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday May 21, Mohammed emphasised that Ghana’s youth, who constitute about 70% of the population, have long been overshadowed in budget allocations due to their previous merger with the Sports Ministry.
He argued that the previous structure resulted in a disproportionate focus on sports funding at the expense of broader youth-focused initiatives.
“They [youth] are fortunate to be in this government. John Dramani Mahama is the first president to have separated the Youth Ministry from the Sports Ministry,” he stated.
Highlighting past budget allocations, Mohammed pointed out that an overwhelming 80% of funds allocated to the Youth and Sports Ministry were historically directed toward Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars.
“Every budget which was allocated to the Youth and Sports Ministry had 80% of the budget being channeled to the Black Stars,” he explained.
According to the MP, the latest budget reflects a major shift in priorities, ensuring that youth development receives substantial funding.
“The budget that came out recently—the Sports Ministry had about GHS60 million, but the Youth Ministry had more than GHS1.5 billion allocated,” he revealed.
Mohammed praised several programmes spearheaded by the Youth Ministry, asserting that they provide valuable opportunities for young people across the country.
“You can talk of Adwumawura, you can talk of the National Apprenticeship Programme, you can talk of the National Coders Programme, and I think that is one thing that gives me hope and gives my people hope,” he remarked.
Source: Abigail Arthur